Nearly two thirds have virus vaccine

Nearly two-thirds of people in Sunderland have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, figures reveal.

NHS data shows 145,326 people in the area had received a vaccine jab by April 11 – 63% of those aged 16 and over, according to the latest population estimates from the Office for National Statistics.

Of those vaccinated, 109,650 were aged 50 and over – 97% of the age group.

That means 33,696 people aged between 16 to 49 have received a first dose of the vaccine.

The data also reveals a wide variation in coverage between different areas across Sunderland.

The proportion of residents prioritised for vaccinations, such as those aged 50 and over, is one factor that could affect vaccine coverage.

The area with the highest coverage is Herrington and Doxford, with 74.2% of people aged 16 and over getting their first dose

The next area is Seaburn with 72.9% and Hetton-leHole North with 71%.

Theareaswiththelowest coverage were Sunderland Central and Deptford (38.2%), Millfield (47.8%) and Barnes Park (54.6%).

Across England, 26.9 million people had received their first dose of a vaccine by April 11 – covering 59% of the population aged 16 and over.

That includes 20 million people aged 50 and over – 95% of the age group.

The figures also show that 6.4 million people have had a second dose of the jab – 14% of people over 16.

A small number of people are not included due to their age being unknown.